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Jin Hanshuang was silent.

Her juice had been replaced with alcohol. She sat at the bar, nursing the new drink in her hand. She clutched Lu Yunshu’s earrings, but she didn’t put them back on.

The illustrious Qin Miaolin, who was often away from the city, knew little about the relationship between the Shen family and the Lu family. Her only concern was to work and design jewelry according to the client’s requirements.

After they confirmed the earrings’ origins, Qin Miaolin exchanged contact information with Jin Hanshuang and left. Qin Miaolin mentioned that the client had approached her a long time ago to customize the earrings. She also said that these earrings were meant for someone very important to the client.

They weren’t randomly chosen. They were precious. A pair of earrings that someone had been waiting to give her for a long, long time.

She was…very important to Lu Yunshu.

Another bottle of wine emptied.

Every doubt that had once lingered in her mind resurfaced, clearer than before.

Jin Hanshuang remained silent.

The earrings in her palm seemed to burn, almost too hot to hold.

The phone on the table vibrated.

Jin Hanshuang glanced down.

It was Lu Yunshu.

What a coincidence, it was Lu Yunshu.

[Lu Yunshu]: Are you busy?

Jin Hanshuang replied: [What’s up?]

[Lu Yunshu]: Nothing.

[Lu Yunshu]: Just wondering if you’d like to go out for a drink.

Jin Hanshuang snapped a picture of her empty glass and sent it over.

Lu Yunshu responded quickly, as if she had been waiting for her: [With friends?]

[At a friend’s gathering.]

[Oh.

[Are there any beauties?]

Jin Hanshuang looked at those four words and smiled for no reason.

Lu Yunshu cared a lot.

Why did she only now realize that Lu Yunshu always worried?

What did Lu Yunshu want?

[Jin Hanshuang]: Yes, a lot.

Lu Yunshu didn’t reply right away.

[Jin Hanshuang]: Why aren’t you saying anything?

[Lu Yunshu]: I don’t know what to say.

[Jin Hanshuang]: Why?

[Lu Yunshu]: You said you wouldn’t forget about me. I want to believe you.

In fact, Lu Yunshu didn’t know if she should believe in Jin Hanshuang or not. Because the trust they spoke of had never been about the same thing.

Jin Hanshuang considered her a friend.

But she had never just considered Jin Hanshuang a friend.

When would she finally be able to say: Don’t look at them. Look at me instead?

Jin Hanshuang didn’t reply.

Lu Yunshu waited quietly, scrolling through their chat history with her fingertips.

She opened that picture of the empty wine glass again.

A hand rested on a black bar counter, holding the frosted white stem. Under the light, Jin Hanshuang’s slender fingers glowed a faint pink, very beautiful. The wine glass was empty, and it was unclear whether it had held juice or wine.

She couldn’t tell what Jin Hanshuang was thinking.

The next second, Jin Hanshuang replied:

[Do you want to meet?]

Jin Hanshuang took the car keys from her driver, handed over the payment, and turned to walk away. Her steps led her down a stone path that carved through the garden.

It was a small park with a musical fountain. Quite beautiful.

She wasn’t sure where to meet Lu Yunshu.

Nothing felt quite right, so she decided to settle for a place where they could sit and chat. Somewhere with fresh air.

Soon enough, she saw Lu Yunshu.

Lu Yunshu was standing under the light, wearing light and comfortable clothes. She tied her hair into a low ponytail, a long strand of hair falling down her cheek.

She wore those same glasses Jin Hanshuang had seen countless times before.

Her outfit was simple, but her posture was elegant and graceful. If this was a crowd, she would still be the center of attention.

Yet her expression was cold and indifferent. As if prematurely rejecting anyone who might approach. But when she saw Jin Hanshuang, her coldness vanished in an instant, replaced by a bright and flowery smile.

“Hanshuang.”

Jin Hanshuang stood where she was, watching Lu Yunshu walk toward her.

She saw Lu Yunshu suddenly approach.

Lu Yunshu nuzzled close to her. Just like a little puppy.

“Have you been drinking?”

“Mm.”

“How did you get here?”

“Paid for a driver.”

“Good. How much did you drink?”

“Two glasses.”

“Why didn’t you ask me to pick you up?”

Jin Hanshuang smiled for no reason again. “It’s a long road. I didn’t want to trouble our President Lu.”

“It’s no trouble,” Lu Yunshu retorted seriously. “It’s only right to help you with your things.”

Jin Hanshuang was left speechless.

It was so obvious. It had always been so obvious…But she never dared to think about it before. She had always pictured Lu Yunshu as a child. She never let her mind wander any further than that point. Her own psychological barrier.

“Why did you want to go out with me? What about the person that you like?”

“She’s…busy.”

“Busy with what?”

“Work.”

“Is that so.”

There were no emotions in her words.

Jin Hanshuang continued walking.

Lu Yunshu followed in her footsteps.

They crept along the path, shoulders almost touching.

Before long, Lu Yunshu broke the silence.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Hm?”

“You seem to have something on your mind.”

“It’s that obvious?” Jin Hanshuang smiled.

“Did something happen?” Lu Yunshu’s eyebrows furrowed in concern.

Jin Hanshuang smiled at her again. They hadn’t stopped moving.

She wasn’t sure what she was doing anymore.

She had changed a lot.

Months ago, when she first realized that Lu Yunshu might like her, she denied it. She was flustered, but she was also decisive. She would tell Lu Yunshu no.

Now, she wasn’t flustered, but she felt confused. She didn’t seem to know how to handle the situation anymore.

Forget it, one step at a time.

Let’s start with a confirmation.

Lu Yunshu stayed by Jin Hanshuang’s side, slowly following along the stone path.

She was worried about Jin Hanshuang, but she also understood the importance of holding space for other people’s thoughts. She pursed her lips and waited for Jin Hanshuang to share her concerns. If she ever did.

Jin Hanshuang stopped and turned to face her.

“At the meet-up today, I met someone and learned something. After what I learned, I’m not sure how to face you.”

She looked into Lu Yunshu’s eyes.

“Do you want to know who this person was?”

Jin Hanshuang’s expression was unusually serious. Lu Yunshu became infected by it. Her brows furrowed, her heart strung with anticipation. The wind blew, carrying the scent of fresh grass. An inkling of rain.

Lu Yunshu was in no mood for the weather. She asked, “Who was it?”

“Qin Miaolin.” Jin Hanshuang’s voice fell without hesitation. “A custom jewelry designer.”

Lu Yunshu’s beautiful eyes widened. Her breath seized.

Jin Hanshuang understood. “You know her.”

She unconsciously stepped closer.

“If I ask you again who do you like, how will you answer me?”

Silence lingered between them.

Jin Hanshuang saw Lu Yunshu open her mouth. But before she could hear any words, a drop of water splashed on her face.

Fingers wrapped around her hand. Lu Yunshu’s voice fell in her ears.

“Let’s get out of the rain first.”

It wasn’t the answer she wanted.

Damn it, the sky had really decided to fall again.

They ran to the entrance of a long hallway. There was no one else there, just the two of them.

They were both drenched.

Jin Hanshuang remembered how, on their way here, Lu Yunshu had briefly let go of her hand to raise her fingers as a shield above her head, almost like she was trying to protect her.

When they finally saw the hallway, Lu Yunshu had grabbed her fingers again. She hadn’t let go. They were still holding hands.

It was so tight.

Jin Hanshuang flexed her fingers.

Lu Yunshu strengthened her grip.

Through the deafening roar of the rain, Jin Hanshuang heard Lu Yunshu’s voice.

“…It’s you.”

Their eyes collided under the white light.

Jin Hanshuang saw the brightness in Lu Yunshu’s eyes.

Bright like stars that should stay in the sky.

“The person I like is you, Jin Hanshuang.”

Jin Hanshuang was stunned.

Even though she expected this answer, she still found it unbelievable when it came from Lu Yunshu’s mouth.

How could…How could it be her?

Jin Hanshuang fixed her gaze on Lu Yunshu.

“So you’ve been lying to me from the start… Why?”

“Because you’ve always treated me like a child and take everything I say as a joke. Because I really didn’t know what would make you like me.”

Lu Yunshu didn’t avoid her eyes.

“And because I was scared. I was scared that you would reject me as soon as I confessed my feelings to you, and I wouldn’t even have the chance to be close to you. I was scared that I could only watch you be with someone else again.

“Hanshuang, I finally had the chance to get close to you. I don’t want to endure it anymore…”

When Shen Minghai was alive, she didn’t dare make a move.

Or rather, she was afraid that Shen Minghai would lash out at Jin Hanshuang.

As long as Shen Minghai was around, Jin Hanshuang would not have much contact with her unless they were out of Shen Minghai’s sight, just like when Lu Yunshu was still in school.

But even if Shen Minghai was alive, she couldn’t guarantee that she would hide her feelings forever. Maybe one day, she wouldn’t be able to hold it in anymore. Maybe one day, she would fearlessly appear in front of Jin Hanshuang, confess her feelings, and ask if she was willing to walk away with her.

She would treat her better than the Shen family.

She would love her more.

If Jin Hanshuang was willing to love her back—if she could reciprocate even a portion of Lu Yunshu’s feelings—then that would be even better.

But Lu Yunshu could never have expected Shen Minghai to pass away from illness first.

Just like her father.

These two people from the Lu and Shen families who disliked each other more than anything suddenly vanished from the world.

Life was really unpredictable…

And now, she stood in front of Jin Hanshuang.

No more hiding. All her intentions were exposed. Laid out in the open.

She could finally express her love, without any deception.

She tightened her grip on Jin Hanshuang’s hand.

She wanted Jin Hanshuang to see her. The real Lu Yunshu. The Lu Yunshu who loved her. The Lu Yunshu who was no longer a child.

“Hanshuang, I’ve grown up. I’m not a kid anymore. I know exactly what I’m doing. I like you more than anyone else. I want you to like me more than anyone else.

“Could you please…consider me?”

She didn’t hear Jin Hanshuang’s response.

Jin Hanshuang was stunned into silence.

The pattering rain hit everything. It crackled on helpless branches and crinkling leaves, each burst of sound knocking on Lu Yunshu’s heart. She was soaked by the rain, blown by the wind. She swayed in uncertainty. Her heart awaited judgement.

Finally, Jin Hanshuang moved.

She withdrew her hand.

“—It shouldn’t be me.”

Jin Hanshuang turned. She wanted to leave. She wanted to get away from Lu Yunshu. She didn’t know how to face her anymore.

But Lu Yunshu’s hand caught up to her, holding her in place. “Hanshuang, it’s still raining!”

Jin Hanshuang shook her off. “Don’t worry about me. Don’t follow me.”

She left without hesitation. Rain drenched her clothes.

But for a brief moment, she looked back.

Lu Yunshu stood in the rain.

She didn’t chase after her.

She always listened to her.

Jin Hanshuang went home.

After changing out of her wet clothes, she sat in a daze.

She made herself take a hot shower.

When she came out of the shower, she poured herself a drink and sat on the couch.

Her mind was filled with thoughts.

Lu Yunshu liked her…

But how could Lu Yunshu like her?

She didn’t understand.

She couldn’t understand herself either.

Lu Yunshu asked her to consider her.

She had intended to refuse.

She had wanted to say: No. We can’t. We have no future together.

But instead, she said, “It shouldn’t be me.”

She should have decisively rejected Lu Yunshu…

Then she remembered the moment she glanced back.

Lu Yunshu, standing alone in the rain, looking at her.

So pitiful.

Something in Jin Hanshuang’s heart softened.

She leaned back in her chair. She stared at the ceiling. She sighed and closed her eyes.

She was still irritated.

The more she thought, the more irritated she became.

Not with Lu Yunshu, but herself.

She had shaken off Lu Yunshu’s hand.

Her tone was so cold.

She didn’t understand why she had lost her temper at Lu Yunshu.

It was so inexplicable. So irrational.

No, that wasn’t right.

She was somewhat angry with Lu Yunshu.

How could Lu Yunshu make up an excuse to deceive her?

How could she…Oh, she said she was afraid of being rejected.

“Tsk…”

Jin Hanshuang had no way to refute that reason at all.

If Lu Yunshu had confessed her feelings all those months ago, she would have rejected her as soon as possible. No hesitation.

She shouldn’t have treated Lu Yunshu’s words at the party as a joke. If she hadn’t, Lu Yunshu might have confessed from the start.

Then, the situation would have been simple—she wouldn’t be dealing with this headache.

She wouldn’t know the pitiful Lu Yunshu, or the little puppy Lu…

Jin Hanshuang opened her eyes.

She thought of Lu Yunshu standing alone in the rain again.

Damn it, that scene was all she could think about now.

It was so annoying—the pitiful Lu Yunshu!

How could she be so pitiful in front of her?!

Bzz.

The phone on the coffee table vibrated.

Jin Hanshuang lowered her head. After she glanced at the screen, she slowly stood up and set down her wine glass. She picked up her phone and unlocked it.

—It was Lu Yunshu again.

Too late, the message had already arrived.

[Lu Yunshu]: Why shouldn’t it be you?

Too late, her finger had already clicked on it.

[Lu Yunshu]: Can’t I like you?

[Lu Yunshu]: Just because my last name is Lu?

[Lu Yunshu]: That’s not fair.

[Lu Yunshu]: Hanshuang, that’s not fair.

After a minute of silence—

[Lu Yunshu]: But I still like you. I still want to like you.

The messages were like her feelings for Jin Hanshuang—unrequited and met with silence.

[Lu Yunshu]: Can you please say something?

[Lu Yunshu]: Jiejie, pay attention to me.

Jin Hanshuang’s brows furrowed slightly. She stood with a look of reluctance. Her mind’s image of Lu Yunshu standing in the rain became even more profound.

She remained silent.

Her fingers hovered over the screen.

In the end, she turned off her phone and tossed it aside.

She still didn’t know how to face Lu Yunshu.

Lu Yunshu waited for a long time but received no message from Jin Hanshuang.

She must be getting the cold shoulder.

See? As soon as she revealed her feelings, Jin Hanshuang immediately avoided her.

But why?

Why could other girls have a chance, but not Lu Yunshu?

Was she really so hard to accept…

Lu Yunshu sat in the car, glaring at her phone.

Her eyes were dim and lifeless.

She was soaked to the bone, just like how she felt in front of Jin Hanshuang.

—Embarrassed to death.

Her friends’ group chat was very active.

Le You and the others were comforting her.

[Fan Jia]: It’s okay. We’re still here.

[Le You]: That’s right! We’re still here! We’ll catch an overnight flight to accompany you!

[Xiao Fanfan]: Where are you? I’ll come and keep you company.

[Lu Yunshu]: It’s okay.

[Lu Yunshu]: I want to be alone right now.

[Le You]: Okay. Call us if you need anything.

[Fan Jia]: I’ve got my volume dialed up all the way. We won’t miss a thing!

[Xiao Fanfan]: Call me if you need company. I’m always available.

Lu Yunshu’s depressed heart lightened with their support. Her spirits slightly lifted.

She hadn’t been defeated. Or rather, she hadn’t given up yet.

Because Jin Hanshuang hadn’t deleted or blocked her.

That was already something.

At least Jin Hanshuang could still see her messages…

She just didn’t want to reply to her.

Being seen was good enough.

Being able to say “I like you” was good enough.

She wouldn’t give up.

Lu Yunshu sneezed.

But first, she should go home and change out of her wet clothes.

The next day, Jin Hanshuang picked up her phone.

Her chat with Lu Yunshu was frozen on the last message from the night before.

Lu Yunshu hadn’t sent any more messages. Jin Hanshuang didn’t know whether it was because she had given up or didn’t want to disturb her anymore.

In any case, it was quiet.

Everything was calm. Like it hadn’t rained just twelve hours ago. Like Lu Yunshu never said she liked her.

Jin Hanshuang put down her phone with a calm expression.

She turned to focus on her tasks. She cleaned up her clothes and bag. She had been in a bad mood after returning home the night before and her things were thrown haphazardly in the closet. She hadn’t organized them yet.

As she rummaged through her bag, she found the earrings Lu Yunshu had given her. Those custom, one-of-a-kind earrings.

“…”

She had forgotten to return them to Lu Yunshu.

She dug deeper into her bag.

She found Lu Yunshu’s hair tie.

“…”

Unbelievable.

How was her life filled with traces of Lu Yunshu?

Jin Hanshuang remained silent for a while before putting the earrings back in their box and storing them carefully.

She had to return them.

She would ask someone to clean them up and return them in brand new condition.

Jin Hanshuang tidied up the rest of her stuff. While she worked, Du Mengying sent her a message asking her why she left so quickly. She ignored the message and called Du Mengying directly. She told Du Mengying everything that happened yesterday.

On the other end of the line, Du Mengying slapped her thigh. “Oh my god, I knew it! She really likes you that way!”

“Tsk, is that the point right now?”

“Ha, isn’t it?”

“No, the point is I don’t know how to face her.”

“What’s there to think about? Didn’t you already have the answer last time?”

“What?”

“Reject her.”

“…”

“You said it yourself.”

Jin Hanshuang’s movements stopped. She fell silent.

What Du Mengying said was true, but now… Oh no, she couldn’t stop thinking about Lu Yunshu’s pitiful expression!

Du Mengying noticed Jin Hanshuang’s silence. Her eyes narrowed. She teased, “No way our Mrs. Shen isn’t willing to let go, right…”

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Jin Hanshuang denied. “I’m really afraid of your mouth right now.”

“Hahaha—”  Du Mengying laughed. She sobered. “So, what do you mean?”

“It’s just…” Jin Hanshuang sat down on the couch. She rubbed her temples. “Ugh, I feel sorry for her.”

Du Mengying nodded. “Yes, you should feel sorry. She confesses to you, then you leave her in the rain. Tsk, it’s so pitiful.”

“…”

Jin Hanshuang suddenly felt irritated.

“Is she an idiot? Doesn’t she know how to avoid the rain?”

She looked at her phone. “I’m hanging up. We’ll talk later.”

She really hung up.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt sorry for Lu Yunshu. Her thoughts were full of pitiful little puppies. This wouldn’t do. It was not making it any easier to reject Lu Yunshu.

Once she organized everything, there was nothing left to do.

Jin Hanshuang sat down and started scrolling through her friends feed.

As she scrolled, she came across Lu Yunshu again.

“…”

Lu Yunshu had posted a picture.

In the picture, there was a pale hand with a needle stuck to the back. A band-aid kept the needle in place, a thin tube connecting it to an IV drip…

All thoughts flew from Jin Hanshuang’s head.

Lu Yunshu was sick?

Lu Yunshu was running a fever.

She had gotten soaked in the rain last night and caught the cold when she got home. Then she woke up shivering and sweating. Her aunt made her go to the hospital for an IV drip. But even so, Lu Yunshu was still thinking about Jin Hanshuang.

For the first time, she posted a picture of herself getting an IV drip on her friends feed. Then she stared at Jin Hanshuang’s chat room, hoping for a reply. Would she see it? If she did, would she reply out of sympathy?

Lu Yunshu had no other desires now. She just wanted to talk.

Hanshuang, please pay attention to me…

She coughed.

After her coughing fit ended, a hand gently pressed against her forehead.

Lu Yunshu looked up to see a short-haired woman in a suit standing in front of her. The woman’s face was full of concern—it was her aunt, Lu Fangru.

After checking Lu Yunshu’s temperature, Lu Fangru gently patted her head. “How are you feeling? Still uncomfortable? Are you tired? Do you want to take a nap?”

Lu Yunshu shook her head. Her voice was thick. “I’m fine. I feel much better now… Auntie, you should go back to the company. I’ll manage.”

“How can I relax if I leave you like this?” Lu Fangru glanced at her phone. “Okay, I’ll wait until your uncle arrives to take care of you, and then I’ll head back. He went to buy you some porridge from that place you liked. Eat it when the time comes. Don’t skip meals, alright?

“If there’s anything else you want, let him know.”

Lu Yunshu smiled weakly. She shook her head. “Porridge is enough.”

Lu Fangru helped her tidy her hair. “Be good and get the injection. Auntie will buy you some medicine. Call me if you need anything.”

Lu Yunshu nodded slightly.

Her aunt left.

She gently turned her phone over.

No messages.

Jin Hanshuang still hadn’t sent her anything.

Not even a punctuation mark.

Lu Yunshu lowered her brows. She let out a soft sight.

She took the initiative again.

[Hanshuang, I’m sick. It’s very uncomfortable.]

Jin Hanshuang didn’t reply.

Jin Hanshuang tossed her phone aside.

She deleted her words so many times in the message box, but she couldn’t write a single sentence that felt right.

She didn’t know what to say.

Nothing felt appropriate.

She had no place in Lu Yunshu’s world.

She decided to let it be. There was no lack of people to take care of Lu Yunshu, so she shouldn’t make the relationship worse than it already was.

Jin Hanshuang stood up. She couldn’t help but glance at her phone thrown haphazardly on the sofa. A surge of frustration rose within her.

So annoying.

If only they hadn’t spent so much time together recently. If only Lu Yunshu had confessed to her from the start.

Jin Hanshuang could have easily rejected her. Now, she felt pity for her and couldn’t even bring herself to block her.

If only Lu Yunshu wasn’t Lu Yunshu.

During the days Lu Yunshu was sick, she posted on her friends circle much more frequently than usual. Every time Jin Hanshuang opened her WeChat, she was forced to follow Lu Yunshu’s slow updates.

She saw Lu Yunshu say she had coughed herself awake at night.

She saw her say she felt much better.

She saw her say her nose was blocked and she couldn’t smell anything.

She saw her say her medicine was bitter and she didn’t like it.

When Jin Hanshuang saw this post, she couldn’t help but laugh.

How can someone so grown up still be afraid of taking medicine?

Jin Hanshuang laughed, then stopped.

What was she laughing at? What’s funny about this?

Who in their right mind posts their illness and health updates on their friends circle?

This kid was definitely doing it on purpose.

Don’t you dare laugh, Jin Hanshuang.

She quickly wiped the smile off her face and finished scrolling through her feed.

Afterward, she couldn’t help but think about how ridiculous she acted.

She had no idea what she was doing.

On the one hand, she didn’t know how to handle Lu Yunshu’s feelings. On the other hand, she kept thinking about Lu Yunshu’s pitiful face. She wanted to reject her, but she was also competing with herself.

What on Earth was she trying to do?

Jin Hanshuang put down her phone and stared out the window.

A few days later, Lu Yunshu’s illness diary vanished from her friends circle.

There were no other posts either.

It was as if she suddenly disappeared.

When Jin Hanshuang scrolled through her friends feed and didn’t see Lu Yunshu, her heart sank. But she quickly recovered.

Maybe Lu Yunshu felt better.

If she was back to normal, she wouldn’t need to post on her feed anymore. After all, those posts probably weren’t just for her to see. They were also for Lu Yunshu’s family, her friends, and everyone who cared about her.

That’s good. If Lu Yunshu was well, Jin Hanshuang didn’t need to fuss anymore.

Jin Hanshuang opened Qin Xiaoliu’s WeChat and sent a message: [It’s time for you to introduce me to someone new.]

[Qin Xiaoliu]: Oh? You’ve finally come around?

[Qin Xiaoliu]: Didn’t you tell me yesterday that you weren’t interested in making new friends?

[Jin Hanshuang]: I slept on it, and now I’m interested.

With a girlfriend by her side, Lu Yunshu’s matters would no longer cross her mind.

But that evening, just as she stepped out of her building to take a stroll in the nearby park, she ran into Lu Yunshu at the entrance to her residential complex.

Lu Yunshu was still dressed casually, her hair tied in a low ponytail, her gold-rimmed glasses perched on her nose. Just like that night.

If it weren’t for the white mask on her face, she would have looked exactly the same.

The unexpected encounter left them both stunned.

Lu Yunshu was the first to recover.

After slipping her phone into her pocket, she approached Jin Hanshuang with a gentle smile.

She greeted her softly, “Jiejie.”

Her voice carried a slight nasal tone.

Jin Hanshuang blurted, “You haven’t recovered from your cold yet.”

She pressed her lips together.

Lu Yunshu smiled, her eyes glowing with happiness. She responded gently, “I’m much better now. I can work again. I’m happy that you care about me.”

Jin Hanshuang frowned.

Lu Yunshu continued, “Now that I’m almost better, I came to see you. I was about to message you, but I didn’t expect you to come down first. What a coincidence. I’m so happy.”

Her eyes curved on the last sentence.

Every ripple of emotion she felt for Jin Hanshuang was sincere and heartfelt.

“…”

Seeing Lu Yunshu like this, Jin Hanshuang felt a strong sense of pity.

Why come to her like this?

Why let her see her like this…?

“What do you want from me?” Jin Hanshuang finally asked.

“Hanshuang, I miss you so much.”

“…”

Jin Hanshuang found herself speechless again.

She was familiar with this scene. She had seen Lu Yunshu’s expression before. She had heard the sentence ‘I miss you’ said pleadingly, pitifully, joyfully, resentfully… Too many times to count.

But it was different.

Because it was Lu Yunshu, everything was different.

She sighed and turned around. “We need to have a proper talk. Let’s go upstairs. I can’t afford to have you catch another cold if it rains later.”

This was the first time Jin Hanshuang had brought Lu Yunshu home.

She poured a cup of warm water for Lu Yunshu to warm her hands and sat down on another sofa. She glanced at Lu Yunshu, who had taken off her mask. Her mood wasn’t as vibrant as before.

She thought of Shen Wenxin.

Shen Wenxin had just recovered from a cold and fever, but now Lu Yunshu was sick. Could it be that these two were passing a baton of illness between them?

She wanted to say something. She couldn’t resist anymore.

But she shouldn’t say anything appropriate.

“Why did you come over so late?”

It was a question she already knew the answer to.

Lu Yunshu said, “I wanted to see you, Hanshuang. I should have waited until I was fully recovered, but I couldn’t help myself.”

Jin Hanshuang’s response was as indifferent as before. “You shouldn’t want.”

The same rejection.

“I can’t help it.”

Lu Yunshu looked into Jin Hanshuang’s eyes, her tone resolute.

“Hanshuang, I can’t help it.”

“I don’t understand,” Jin Hanshuang said. “How can you possibly like me?”

“I don’t understand either.”

“?”

“By the time I realized it, I already liked you.”

That was love, always catching people off guard.

Jin Hanshuang frowned. “When did you start liking me?”

Lu Yunshu shook her head. “I don’t know.”

She couldn’t recall the precise moment her feelings for Jin Hanshuang began to change. Maybe it was during university or even earlier. Back then, she had always looked forward to seeing Jin Hanshuang, hoping to spend time alone with her, even if it was just sitting quietly and watching the stars together.

Later, Le You and the others told her: That’s what we call love. Because she wasn’t just overcome with an urge to see Jin Hanshuang. She also had a tendency to mention her in front of others. Deliberately or inadvertently, over and over again. Her conflict with Shen Wenxin did not affect her feelings for Jin Hanshuang at all.

This was what led her friends to call it love.

Lu Yunshu, you like Jin Hanshuang. You are doomed!

Yes, she was doomed. She liked her rival’s stepmother, a married woman.

She was doomed, but her feelings marched on.

She wanted to see her very much.

Today, she sat in front of the person she liked and finally expressed her feelings.

Jin Hanshuang’s expression revealed a sliver of surprise.

She didn’t know how to respond.

How could this be?

There was someone who liked her for so many years, and that person was Lu Yunshu.

Why did love always have to come from nowhere?

“I never noticed that you liked me before.”

“Because you always thought of me as a child.”

Since she was a child, it was normal for her to be intimate.

Since she was a child, it was just a joke when she said she wanted to pursue her.

Everything could be blocked by age.

“…”

Jin Hanshuang was speechless.

It was true.

Wasn’t this the reason why she never took Lu Yunshu’s words seriously?

Because of the relationship between their families, she was certain that Lu Yunshu would never like her. No matter how strange she felt around Lu Yunshu, she refused to consider love.

Until Qin Miaolin.

Until Lu Yunshu admitted, “I like you.”

Love…really liked to play tricks on people.

“It doesn’t matter if you couldn’t see it before,” Lu Yunshu said. “What about now? My feelings for you, my looks, my personality, everything about me—do you see it now?”

Her love for Jin Hanshuang was blinding, burning with longing and desire.

Jin Hanshuang furrowed her brows.

Once again, she saw the sincerity of Lu Yunshu’s feelings for her.

But, but…

Jin Hanshuang slowly opened her lips.

As if anticipating what she was going to say, Lu Yunshu quickly interrupted. “Don’t be so quick to reject me, Hanshuang. I know how much you care about me.”

Words caught in Jin Hanshuang’s throat. Her frown deepened. “?”

“The other party is typing.” When Lu Yunshu thought of this, she felt much better. A faint smile played on her lips. “I saw the status several times.”

It happened on the day she got her injection, shortly after she posted her first pitiful update on WeChat. Jin Hanshuang hadn’t replied, not once. But her status showed “the other party is typing” several times.

Even though not a single word was sent, Lu Yunshu still noticed. Jin Hanshuang wasn’t completely ignoring her. It seemed more like she didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to face her. It was a conundrum.

Jin Hanshuang: “…”

Could she turn off that status?

“So you deliberately posted those things on your feed?”

“You saw them?”

“You posted them for people to see, didn’t you?”

Lu Yunshu smiled. “Yes, for you alone.”

Jin Hanshuang: “…?”

Lu Yunshu’s gentle tone carried a hint of grievance. “I was afraid you wouldn’t read my messages, so I posted on my feed. I admit that I was despicable. I didn’t want others to worry, but I especially wanted you to worry, even if it’s just sympathy.”

Jin Hanshuang was completely speechless. Lu Yunshu had used all the tricks Jin Hanshuang taught her—all on her—in such a pitiful, heart-wrenching way.

Lu Yunshu set down her cup of water, leaned forward, and bravely took Jin Hanshuang’s hand. Then she lowered her head and rested her face in Jin Hanshuang’s palm. She gazed up at her with a look of remorse, just like when she first admitted her mistakes.

“Hanshuang, I like you. I like you so much. So, could you please not reject me so quickly? Could you give me a chance to pursue you and make you happy?

“Please, jiejie…”

She spoke with a gentle and pitiful tone, her appearance beautiful but fragile.

These were the things she only showed Jin Hanshuang.

Jin Hanshuang became mute in an instant.

Lu Yunshu seemed to think she wasn’t doing enough. She gently nuzzled Jin Hanshuang’s palm and furrowed her brows, repeating pitifully, “I’m still sick, Hanshuang. I feel so uncomfortable…”

Jin Hanshuang: “…”

It was over.

She didn’t even have the courage to pull her hand back.

“Lu Yunshu, are you using the tricks I taught you against me?”

Lu Yunshu smiled and held her hand tighter.

“Teacher Jin taught so well.”

Jin Hanshuang: “…”

Like shooting her own foot.

The author (热到昏厥) has something to say:

Tomorrow’s update will also be at midnight.

Good night, everyone~

The translator (AmEricaNo) has something to say:

Phew, this chapter was more than triple the length of your average chapter. 

I’ve never felt my investment in a story rocket so much.

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